THE ALPINE WOODSIA. 285 
up from a series of remarkably fine specimens, collected on the hills 
bordering Glen Lochy in Perthshire, by Mr. J. T. Syme. We 
regard it as being perfectly distinct from. Woodsia ilvensis, from which 
it is readily dissociated when the eye once becomes acquainted with 
it. The fronds are smaller, narrower, and smoother, than in W. 
ilvensis, which latter is furnished with a clothing of chaffy scales 
beneath, which are wanting in W. alpina. The present species, 
under the excitement of the artificial conditions imposed on it in a 
state of culture, does perhaps sometimes acquire greater breadth of 
frond than is observable in the wild specimens, yet the proportions 
and general features of the plant remain quite unchanged, and no 
species ean be considered to bear the test of cultivation with less 
variation of character. It is, indeed, much more like the JV. glabella 
than JW. ilvensis, but the fronds of that plant are still narrower and 
more slender in their proportions. 
This species is if possible, still more rare, than the Woodsia ilvensis. 
Its head-quarters appear to be the mountains of Perthshire; it 
occurs also in Forfarshire, but the reported habitat of the Moffat 
Hills in Dumfries-shire, is not clearly referred to this species. "The 
rocky precipices of Snowdon, where the rock is described as being 
of a peculiar character, resembling limestone, are the only other 
places in which it is known to grow naturally within the United 
Kingdom. The habitats are :— 
AN. Wales.—Carnarvonshire : Clogwyn-y-Garnedd, Snowdon, on 
preeipiees facing east, and north-west; rocks facing the east above 
Glas Lyn, Z. Clark; Moel Lechog, Pass of Llanberris, L. Clark. 
E. Highlands.—Perthshire: Ben Chonzie, near Crieff, Dr. 
Balfour; Ben Lawers, Dickson, W. Wilson; Mael-dun-Crosk; _ 
Catjaghiamman ; Craig Challiaeh, W. Wilson; on the hills be- 
tween Glen Lochy and Glen Dochart, J. T. Syme. Forfarshire : 
Glen Isla, Dr. Balfour ; Glen Fiadh, Clova Mountains, Dr. Balfour. 
Of the countries of Europe, this Fern has been found in Lapland, k 
Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Switzerland, France, Germany, 
Hungary, Silesia, Spain, and Transylvania. In Asia it occurs in 

